Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a country located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. It shares borders with Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest, Georgia and Armenia to the northeast, Azerbaijan and Iran to the east, and Iraq and Syria to the southeast. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean Sea to the southwest, and the Black Sea to the north. The Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus, and the Dardanelles straits demarcate the boundary between Europe and Asia.
The country covers an area of 783,562 square kilometers. The capital is Ankara. Additionally, there are major cities like Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Adana, Gaziantep, and Konya. Geographically, the country is divided into 7 regions.
Since 1963, Turkey has been an official candidate for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), the present-day European Union (EU). In 1995, Turkey signed a customs union agreement with the EU. Turkey is also a member of NATO, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Organization of Turkic States.
Turkey is a democratic, secular, unitary, constitutional republic, whose political system was established in 1923 after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.
Climate Conditions
Due to its location in the northeastern Mediterranean basin, Turkey has a Mediterranean climate: mild winters and hot, dry summers. Annual precipitation in this region ranges from 580 to 1300 mm. Summers can see temperatures exceed +40 °C, while winters typically stay above +10 °C.
The coastal regions along the Black Sea have a temperate maritime climate with hot, humid summers and cool, moist winters. Annual precipitation in this region ranges from 1000 to 2500 mm. Summer temperatures average between +20–24°C, while winter temperatures range from +4–7°C.
The predominance of eastern-facing major relief features affects the climate of the inland regions. These areas experience a more continental climate: colder winters, less precipitation, with maximum precipitation occurring in spring. In the eastern mountainous regions, winter temperatures can fluctuate between -30°C to -40°C, with snow cover lasting up to 120 days a year. Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures typically ranging from +18–25°C.
Demographics
As of 2023, Turkey's population is approximately 85.2 million people, making it the 19th most populous country in the world. The population growth rate in Turkey is significantly higher than in other European countries (about 1.3% per year). In 2023, the fertility rate increased to 1.7 children per woman.
The average life expectancy is estimated at 78.3 years (75.6 years for men and 81 years for women).
The average population density in Turkey is 92 people per square kilometer. Istanbul Province has the highest population density, with 2420 people per square kilometer. Approximately 70.5% of the population lives in urban areas.
Half of Turkey's population is younger than 28.3 years old. People aged 15-64, the active population, make up 66.5% of the total population. The age group 0-14 corresponds to 26.4% of Turkey's population, while elderly people aged 65 and over account for 7.1% of the total population.
The ethnic composition of Turkey is difficult to determine precisely because ethnic identity is no longer recorded in official population censuses. Moreover, over the centuries, various ethnic groups have intermixed, making it difficult to assign people to a single ethnicity. However, the following ethnic groups can be identified: Turks (70–77%), Kurds (19%), Zazas (4%), Circassians (3%), Bosniaks (2%), Arabs (1%), Albanians (1%). Additionally, there are national minorities such as Georgians, Bulgarians, Assyrians, Chechens, Greeks, Jews, and Roma.
The official and national language of modern Turkey is Turkish, spoken by over 80% of the population as their native language. Additionally, there are about 20 languages from five different language families spoken by non-Turkish ethnic groups and minorities residing in Turkey.
According to official statistics, approximately 99% of Turkey's population is Muslim (of which approximately 82% are Sunni, 16% are Alevis, and 1–2% are Alawites). However, this figure is subjective because every resident of Turkey is automatically recorded as Muslim unless they explicitly declare a different religion.
Economy
Turkey has one of the fastest-growing economies. As of 2023, the GDP of the Republic of Turkey amounted to $819 billion, ranking it 20th in the world. However, in spring 2017, the rating agency Moody's downgraded Turkey's credit rating from "stable" to "negative". In its annual report published in November of the same year, political risks and high vulnerability to external influences were cited as the country's main weaknesses.
The Turkish economy also faces serious structural problems. Agriculture accounts for only 11.9% of GDP but employs 30.6% of the workforce. Industry accounts for 29.6% of GDP, while the services sector accounts for 58.5%. In industry, 19.3% of the workforce is employed, and in the services sector, 44.5%.
51.6% of the country's exports go to the EU, and 46% of imports come from the EU.
The unemployment rate in 2023 was 9.4%. 18.4% of all workers are employed in agriculture, 26.6% in industry, and 54.9% in services.
The Turkish economy is characterized by high growth rates (average quarterly growth of 4%) combined with even higher inflation. In December 2023, the inflation rate reached record levels –
Freedom of Travel (Visa-Free Countries)
In the global passport strength ranking, Turkey ranks 36th alongside Russia and Montenegro. Turkish citizens can visit 69 countries in visa-free regime (with the right of free stay from 30 to 180 days). Also in 51 countries it is possible to issue a visa on arrival (stay up to 180 days), and in 7 countries it is allowed to issue an electronic entry permit (up to 120 days of free stay).